Supporting chain for electrical conductors



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,502 H. DOLIER, JR

SUPPQRTING' CHAIN FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed 13%. 29, 1925 awwemboz Patented 19 1929.

mum! D'OIJIB, m, 01' BBIDGEIOBT, OONNEO'IIGUT SUPPORTING CHAIN 1'03 ELECTRICAL GONDUCTOBS.

Application fled December 89, 1825. Serial no. 78,181.

such as those used in supporting incandescent electrical lamps, although I contemplate theuse of the invention in any field for which it may be adapted by the nature of my improvements.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a supporting chain having a straight path for the electrical conductor or conductors in contradistinction to the conventional type of supporting chain in which the links are so formed that'the conductor must be threaded backward and forward through the links, which constitutes a source of inconvenience in assembling the electrical conductors with the chain and in removing the electrical conductors therefrom, when such removal is desirable.

The improved chain, provided with such a straight path, makes it possible to run the conductor readily throu h the chain, or to remove it therefrom wit equal facility, by sim ly threading the conductor in the straight path along the axis of the chain, an when thus assembled the conductor is held in place by suitably bent portions of the links, so that the conductor cannot be displaced accidentally from the chain, the whole presenting a neat, compact, and attractive appearance.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide such a chain in which each link is formed of a single piece of wire bent to form body portions extending alon the axis of the conductor or chain, each ink havin its ends formed in such a way as to adapt t e several links each to be connected with the adjacent link, and the middle portion of the wire being bent around in such a way as to wholly or partially embrace the conductor, this bent mi dle portion being also adapted -for easy connection with the connecting parts of the free ends of the adjacent link in making up the chain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a chain with terminal links adapted for connection respectively with a connector-socket to sup ortthe latter, or with any other suitable e ectrical device, and to adapt the chain for ready connection with a primary support.

- Still another object of the invention is' to provide a terminal link which can be readily connected with such a connector-socket and which may, if desired, be constituted an int 1 portion of said socket.

he above and other features of the inyention are fully illustrated and described in the accompanying drawin s and specification and are pointed out in t e claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a supporting chain for an electrical conductor, shown in -combination with an electric lighting unit and with a primary support therefor, having electrical conductors illustrated 1n operative position therewith.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the chain showing the connection etween two of the links, this figure being taken from a view point at right angles to N that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view in longitudinal section of the terminal links showing the mode of connection with the socket. V

Fig. 4 is a detailed view in transverse section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 5 is a view in perspect1ve of one of d the terminal links, isolated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the part desi ated by the reference numeral 1 is an e ectric lamp of the conventional type, shown in assembled relation with a socket 2 and surrounded by a globe 3 mounted in a\ holder 4 secured to the socket, these parts being of a conventional character in their general construction.

In pursuance of the invention, I have illustrated a chain having a straight path for an electrical conductor, or conductors, 5, adapted to supply the electrical current to the lamp, and extending through the chain to areceptacle 6 mounted upon an outlet 7 forming part of a conduit system 8 which ma be of conventional construction, the latter avin a hanger 9 provided with a hook 10 upon w ich the chain is adapted to be hung as illustrated.

The conductors 5 derive their sup ort from the links of the chain, through wiiich they pass, as already indicated, in a straight path, for which purpose each of the links is suitably formed.

A convenient form of link is constituted b bending a single piece of wire to form a p uralit of portions 11 extending respectively a ong the axis of the chain and of the conductor thereby supported, each of these portions 11 terminating in a part 13'which may be bent for connection with the adjacent part of the next link, as for example by means of the eyes illustrated at 13 in the respective links.

To co-operate with these e es, each link has its intermediate portion out at 14 to form a loop which extends partially or wholly around the axial path of the conductor, and is preferably bent substantially as illustrated at 15 down from a transverse plane to form a sort of hook which co-operates with the eyes 13' to prevent sliding movement between the connecting portions of the links, preferably without interfering unduly with a certain desirable flexibility of the chain.

The exact form of the link may be varied to meet the exigencies of particular installations, having due regard to the principal object of the invention, which is to provide a path through which the connectors ma be quickly inserted in a straight line, and rom which the conductors may be removed with equal facility.

Preferably the links will be of identical formation so that the intermediate portions 14 will extend alternately toward one side and the other side of the connector, and this will serveto prevent lateral displacement of the same in either direction therefrom, the straight portions 11 serving likewise to protect and give the desired direction to the conductors.

A chain thus formed constitutes'an attractive, strong and serviceable support for a conductor, whether or not the latter is used for the specific purpose of supporting an electrical lighting unit of the character de relatively to the scribed, or in any position where it is desirable to provide an electrical conductor with asupporting structure of the class described.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, I have shown the chain as provided with a terminal link in which the straight members 11. and the intermediate portion 14 correspond with the similarly numbered parts heretofore described, so that the link may be connected readily with the other members of the chain, but the free portions of the parts 11 are bent as indicated at 23 to form semi-circular attaching portions lying in a transverse plane general axis of the chain, and adapted to be combined with the cap 16 of the connector-socket illustrated, in such a manner that the latter will derive the desired support therefrom. For this purpose, the cap may conveniently have a mouth provided with a lip 17, to cooperate with the parts 23, and the connection between the cap 16 and the parts 23 may be either of a permanent character or of a removable character.

so that the chain may be threaded through the mouth of the cap, until the parts 23 of the terminal link engage with the bent-over lip 17, or as another mode of efiecting this connection the parts 23 ma be so bent that they may be sprung toward each other and inserted through the mouth of the cap and, when released, their natural resilience will cause them to spring out into position where they will be retained with sufiicient strength to avoid displacement by any ordinary tension due to the weight of'the lighting unit.

The chain and the unit connected therewith may be hung from any suitable support by hanging the upper terminal link 20 of the chain upon the supporting structure, and in the instance illustrated the upper terminal link 20 is provided with a portion 22 adapted to co-operate with the hanger to which reference has already been made.

A structure thus constituted serves to support the lighting unit and the conductors without any stram upon the latter.

1. A link for a chain of the class described, said link comprising a wirehaving portions adapted to extend along the axis of the chain, the ends of said portions being formed for connection with a connecting link, and the intermediate portion of the closed end of said link being disposed to one side of the longitudinal axis of the link to extend around an electrical conductor, said closed end of the link having also s aced portions formed to be connected with t e cooperating ends of another link. 4

2. A chain composed of links formed of a single piece of wire in U shape, the free ends of the arms of the links being formed to and engaging" with the closed end of the next adi'acent link, the closed end of certain of the inks having portions disposed to one side of the longitudinal axis of the link, certain of said outwardl disposed portions being in register whereby a straight passageway for a lighting cord is provided through the chain "along its longitudinal axis.

specification.

HENRY DOLIER, JR.

por-

adjacent link, the 

